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Enrique Duarte learned an important lesson about education that -- just in time for Father's Day -- will make his teacher especially proud.

The son of a Mexican-educated man whose own master's degree has gone unrecognized in this country, he will be presented at a commencement Friday with the highest academic honor from the University of California, Davis. The campus will also honor dozens of other students for outstanding scholarship and community service at ceremonies through Sunday.

Duarte, who earned a bachelor's degree in computer science and engineering in March with a 3.985 grade point average, will receive the University Medal, with its $500 honorarium from the Cal Aggie Alumni Association, as well as the 's $1,000 M.S. Ghausi Medal for academic excellence. They will be presented at the college's ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in Recreation Hall.

When Fernando Duarte and his family came from Mexico to California to make a new life, his master's degree in bioengineering from a Mexican university was not accepted as a credential for jobs he was qualified to perform. Instead, he worked at minimum-wage jobs, and his three older sons worked to help pay the family's rent.

Enrique's father persevered, others eventually recognized his knowledge, and today, he is a water treatment operator in San Francisco.

But even in those lean years, the elder Duarte found the money to buy a computer to help whet his son's appetite for science and math. And when Enrique in his pre-teen years told his mother, Elizabeth, that he wanted to go to college, she started saving what money she could.

Now as the youngest Duarte begins to reap some of the rewards of his education -- including a well-paying job as a software engineer at Intel, a six-bedroom home being built in Folsom and an impressive resume for graduate school -- he knows its biggest reward is not even the degree but what he has actually learned.

"That's what my father taught me," Duarte said. "No one can ever take it away from you."

Other students also will be honored at commencements through Sunday.

At the commencement Thursday, Emine Gunhan-Agar will be recognized as the recipient of the Allen G. Marr Prize for the outstanding dissertation in this year's designated discipline -- the biological and life sciences. She earned a doctoral degree last year.

Other individuals to be recognized for the quality of their doctoral dissertations are Bryan Bemis of San Ramon, geology; Qihong Huang of China, microbiology; Steven Jinks of New York City, physiology; and Anne Vandooren, electrical and computer engineering. The ceremony will take place at 6:30 p.m. in Recreation Hall.

The following four award recipients will be recognized at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences commencements at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Saturday in Recreation Hall:

• Jamie McInturff of San Jose will be presented with the college's medal for scholarship and extracurricular activities along with its $500 prize. She will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in biotechnology.
• Amy Denney is the female recipient of the $1,000 Charles Hess Community Service Award, presented by the college to recognize outstanding community and campus service. She will graduate with a B.S. in community and regional development and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish.
• Joshua Jorgensen of Carmichael is the male recipient of the Hess award. He will graduate with a B.S. in nutrition science.
• Susanna Cohen of Berkeley will be presented with the $500 Mary Regan Meyer Prize, given to a student who demonstrates exceptional motivation. She will graduate with a B.S. in community and regional development.

The will present the following awards to candidates for a Master of Business Administration degree during its ceremony at 10 a.m. Saturday in Freeborn Hall.

• The $500 Richard C. Dorf Award for Academic Excellence in the full-time program will be presented to Amy Wong of Hong Kong. The Dorf award for the Working Professionals program will be presented to Eric Hubbard of Tiburon.
• The $500 James F. Sullivan Award will be presented to Jan Kingsbury of Sutter Creek for outstanding service to the school from among candidates in the full-time program. The Sullivan award for the Working Professionals program will be presented to Karim Kanaan of El Dorado Hills.

Also Saturday, Naileshni Singh of San Bruno, a candidate for a B.S. in genetics, will receive the ' Undergraduate Student of the Year Award for excellence in academics, research and community service. The award will be presented at the division's commencement at 7:30 p.m. in Recreation Hall.

At the same ceremony, Neelima Sinha, an associate professor of plant biology, will be recognized as this year's recipient of the Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research.

The following six award winners will be honored at the commencement ceremonies at 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Recreation Hall:

• Elizabeth Middleton of Plymouth has won the Mary Jeanne Gilhooly Memorial Award as the university's most outstanding graduating female student. The award, which includes a $500 stipend, recognizes service and leadership in university and community activities as well as scholarship. Rose will graduate with a bachelor's degree in nature and culture.
• Edgar Chen of Davis has won the $500 V. Glenn Winslow Jr. Award as the university's most outstanding graduating male student. The award recognizes service, leadership and scholarship. Chen will graduate with a bachelor's degree in political science and Asian American studies with a minor in women and gender studies.
• Jodi Angel of Sacramento will receive the $1,000 Leon Mayhew Award, presented by the college for academic achievement and service to the university. She will graduate with a B.A. in English.
• Christina Stuart of San Francisco will be presented with the $900 Lawrence J. Andrews Prize for academic excellence and extracurricular activities. She will graduate with a bachelor's degree in chemistry with a German minor.
• Luke Donev of Pine Mountain Club will be presented with the Chancellor's Award and Simonton Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Research. The award, which includes $500 cash, recognizes students who have distinguished themselves through their excellence in and contribution to undergraduate research. Donev will graduate with a B.S. in physics.
• Lee Michael Martin will be presented with the college's $500 Herbert A. Young Award for academic achievement and service to the university.

The will announce award winners at a ceremony at noon Friday on the Health Sciences Quadrangle.

At the commencement last Friday, three students who graduated with Doctor of Medicine degrees were presented with awards and $500 each:

• Kathleen Gates received the School of Medicine Medal for attaining the highest academic standing;
• Akrit Sodhi was awarded the Loren D. Carlson Research Award;
• and Grzegorz Rogalski received the Golden Goblet award as the student who, in the opinion of classmates, best and most consistently demonstrates joy and commitment of selflessness and service to others.

Michelle Samonek of Citrus Heights, who attained the highest academic standing among Juris Doctor candidates, was presented with the School of Law Medal in May.